How Much Does It Cost To Create A Board Game?

One of the most common questions designers and publishers ask is: “How much does it cost to make a board game?”

The answer varies widely depending on your complexity, quantity, and materials. Typically, the average cost of a board game is between 4,000 to 20,000 dollars.

However, every board game project shares a similar set of cost items.

To explain where that money goes, we will go over each step that goes into creating a new board game and show where the money goes.

1. Game Prototyping Costs

Before mass production, you’ll need one or more prototypes for playtesting, pitching, or marketing. Prototype cost depends on component complexity.

Typical Cost Range

• Simple card-only prototype: $30–$80 each
• Card + board + tokens: $80–$150 each
• Full deluxe prototype with miniatures: $150–$400+ each

What Affects Prototype Pricing

• Number of components
• Material type (paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, metal)
• Special finishes (linen texture, UV coating)
• Whether the prototype is handmade or machine-printed

Because prototypes are one-off pieces, they cost more per unit than mass production, but they’re an essential step.

2. Artwork & Graphic Design Fees

If you’re not creating the artwork yourself, visual design is one of the largest upfront expenses.

Typical Cost Range

• Basic card layout & icons: $300–$1,000
• Complete board game artwork: $1,000–$5,000
• Large box illustrations or custom character art: $500–$2,000
• Fully illustrated games: $5,000–$15,000+

What Affects Design Cost

• Number of illustrations required
• Detail level (simple vs. heavily stylized art)
• Whether you need custom icons, logos, rulebook layout, or packaging design
• Experience level of the designer/artist

Good artwork elevates a game’s perceived value, so many creators allocate a significant budget here.

3. Molds and Tooling Costs (If Needed)

Not every board game needs molds, but if your game includes custom plastic miniatures, tokens, trays, or dice, tooling fees apply.

Typical Cost Range

• Simple small injection mold: $500–$2,000
• Medium-sized mold for figures: $2,000–$8,000
• Large or highly detailed mold: $8,000–$20,000+

Why Tooling Is Expensive

• Tooling is a one-time cost required to shape molten plastic in factory production.
• Reusable standard components (e.g., wooden cubes, blank dice) avoid mold costs entirely.

4. Component Production & Printing Costs

This is the main cost category when manufacturing your game. The total depends largely on quantity – the more you print, the lower the per-unit cost.

Major Printed Components

• Game cards
• Game boards
• Two-piece boxes
• Rulebooks
• Punchboards (tokens, tiles)

Materials/Finishes That Affect Price

• Thickness of paperboard (1.0–3.0 mm)
• Linen texture or smooth finish
• Matte or gloss lamination
• Spot UV, foil stamping, embossing
• Full-color or limited-color printing

Sample Production Cost (varies by quantity & complexity)

• Card deck (54 cards): $0.50–$2.00 per deck
• Folding game board: $1.00–$4.00
• Punchboard sheet: $0.30–$1.50 per sheet
• Standard game box: $0.80–$3.50
• Rulebook: $0.20–$1.00

The total cost of printed materials can range from $3 to $10+ per game depending on quality and components.

5. Custom Accessories (Wood, Plastic, Metal)

Many games include premium or unique components.

Common Add-Ons & Prices

• Standard wooden cubes/tokens: $0.02–$0.10 each
• Custom-cut wooden shapes: $0.10–$0.50 each
• Plastic miniatures: $0.05–$0.30 each (plus mold cost)
• Acrylic tokens: $0.05–$0.20 each
• Metal coins: $0.15–$1.00 each
• Custom dice: $0.20–$0.80 each
• Custom trays/inserts: $0.30–$2.00

The more custom pieces you include, the higher your budget must be.

6. Packaging Costs

Your game box and internal packaging influence both cost and presentation.

Packaging Options

• Standard rigid two-piece box
• Magnetic closure box
• Tuck boxes for card games
• Custom thermoformed plastic inserts
• Eco-friendly cardboard inserts

Typical Range

• Simple tuck box: $0.20–$0.50
• Standard board game box: $0.80–$3.50
• Premium magnetic box: $2.00–$6.00
• Inserts: $0.10–$2.00

Premium packaging increases costs but improves retail shelf appeal.

7. Assembly & Labor

Factory assembly is often included in production quotes, but certain labor-intensive tasks increase the price.

Examples

• Sorting and packing multiple types of components
• Shrink-wrapping
• Applying stickers to custom dice
• Collating rulebooks or punchboards

Typical Range

• $0.10–$0.60 per game, depending on complexity

Labor costs remain relatively low in China, but they still add up for complex games.

8. Quality Control (QC) Testing

Professional QC ensures all components meet specifications.

QC-Related Costs

• Material testing
• Color accuracy checks
• Component counting
• Finished product inspection
• Drop testing for packaging strength

QC is usually included in the manufacturing price but may add $50–$200 for special certifications (CE, UKCA, ASTM, CPSIA, etc.).

9. Freight & Logistics

Shipping is often one of the largest surprise expenses for new creators.

Shipping Options

• Sea freight (most affordable)
• Air freight (fast but expensive)
• Express courier (for small quantities)

Typical Cost Range

• Sea freight: $0.50–$3.00 per game
• Air freight: $3.00–$10.00+ per game
• Express: depends on weight and urgency

Additional logistics costs include:

• Customs duties
• Import taxes
• Local delivery from the port to the warehouse
• Fulfillment center receiving fees

Always budget shipping separately from manufacturing.

10. Storage, Fulfillment & Inventory Costs

Once games arrive in your country, you may need storage before selling.

Typical Costs

• Warehousing: $0.30–$1.50 per carton per month
• Pick & pack fulfillment: $1–$4 per order
• Long-term FBA storage: varies widely

If you plan crowdfunding, fulfillment is a major cost category.

11. Contingency Budgeting

Even with accurate planning, creators encounter unexpected costs such as:

• Revisions to artwork or layout
• Additional prototypes
• Corrections to manufacturing files
• Additional shipping fees
• Packaging adjustments

Industry rule:

Budget an additional 10–20% for unexpected expenses.

Final Thoughts

The cost to create a board game varies widely depending on the game’s complexity, artwork needs, materials, and production quantity.

A small card game may cost only a few thousand dollars, while a deluxe miniatures-heavy game can climb to tens of thousands.

If you need accurate pricing, component suggestions, or a free manufacturing quote, we’re happy to help as a China custom board game manufacturer.